Taiwan Friends

One of the cultural discovery that I brought back was the a special connection that Singaporean Chinese has with Taiwanese. Personally, among the many nationalities, Taiwanese were the people whom I was able to connect best in The Washington Center. In fact, counting the number of deeper friendships that I have cultivated, Taiwanese accounted for the most. Perhaps a major reason why I got to know so many Taiwanese was due to NMUN APEC exercise as we has classes together a couple of times. However, as I thought about it I realize that the reason might be just that both Taiwanese and Singaporean have the commonality in our stage of development and the Chinese dialect that dominates our country.

Meeting the first two Taiwanese girls in the RAF - Michelle and Juanita

Each of the Taiwanese students has something that I remember them for. Michelle and Juanita are the first two Taiwanese I met during a RAF Orientation session. I will also remember them coming together to come out with a story to make me believe that I am invited for a date in the White House to celebrate Osama's death. hahaha!!! 

Kimi and me on convocation

Kimi, unfortunately, has a memory in me that she had a big roommate conflict in which I tried to console her a couple of times. She is also a very knowledgeable girl, giving lots of interesting insights during our class discussions.

Jackie, Robin, Maggie and Juanita (Night walk in DC)

Maggie had a particular connection with me being a Singaporean as she has 2 very good Singapore friends she got to know when she was in exchange in Finland. She actually gives me a Singapore-Taiwanese feel. Other than the ability to speak Singlish, she has the soft side that Taiwanese girls have and yet the career-driven character that Singapore girls I well known for. Jackie, I remembered was the last Taiwanese student to arrive in TWC and I didn't click well with him initially. It was only during the NMUN APEC conference that I began to realize he is a very sincere friend. I remember that during the day that we were checking out from the RAF he took effort to wake up early to send each of us off in different intervals. A true friend indeed. 

I enjoyed talking and hanging out with the Taiwanese. They often asked me out for meals and other activities such as day trips to Baltimore and Atlantic City. However, the memory that I will treasure most with them is the occasion when we came together to sing a song for our Japanese friends to encourage them through their difficult times caused by the 2011 earthquake. Chit chatting is also particularly fun with them as we are naturally on the "same frequency". They have a good proportion of my memories in Washington D.C. and I will treasure the times with them. 

I remember that scene when I saw the Taiwanese leave in the Super Shuttle off the airport. It was quite an emotional incident as I saw there faces drifting away. I will keep the memories and friendship with them, and will definitely go over to Taiwan one day to find them.